It's been a busy week here in Janeworld. I have completed all 28 drawings for my next Fine Art Coloring Book - "The Imaginary Garden " . I delivered it all to the printer so we're off and running on that project...very excited about this one! I even included a map to guide your fantastical journey. You will discover exotic plants, strange insects, fairies, bunny rabbits all dressed up to go a courting, and even Magical Mushrooms among other things during you coloring adventure.

I was inspired to make an Imaginary Magical Garden my theme for this book after attending and speaking to the nice folks at the Jefferson Co. Master Gardeners convention in February. I also will be the keynote speaker at the State Master Gardeners Convention coming this May, so garden were definitely getting my attention! Most all of my "master gardening" is done with my imagination, but that's ok with them!

Best to do the best with what one does best - and what I do best is draw! Flowers, trees and beautiful gardens have always been an inspiration to me. As a child playing in my Grandmother's back yard, I was always on the lookout for tiny fairies and odd insects. I even had a bug collection ... until that kinda grossed me out.

I digress.

After I finished the Garden drawings , I got back into clay and carried on the theme of elves and fairies. I am having fun constructing Pixie Cottages and designing Fairy Houses. This has been way more fun than dwelling on bad news ( too much of that around these days unfortunately).

So - I will keep on doing my best at doing what I do best... you can quote me on that!

Have you ever had the feeling that the Universe is trying to tell you to do something for your own good? In my case lately - I think the Universe has actually been shouting at me to GET BACK TO WRITING ON BOOK 3 for pete's sake!!!! Ok, I hear you.

I am daily admonished by my imaginary friends from Peavine as I look at the painting of "Doll Dumas in Heaven" and the sculpture of "Teenie Brice in Blue Suede shoes with Princess the Poodle on his lap". However when I encounter more than three or more people a week asking me how the writing is going or when the third book will be finished, I begin to take notice.

Sure, I've been busy with my sculpture and now is the time to start some Christmas paintings, but I think I need to carve out some time in the next week to find my way back to Peavine and dive back into the story in Book 3 of the Peavine Chronicle series , The Blue Hawaiian Bar and Grill .

I've actually been working on this novel sporadically over the past year and a half - between all my visual art projects. I'm about a fourth of the way into the story and have finally settled on how I want it to end. I have to know what my beginning, middle and ending are before I can really get going. That gives me plenty of room to meander and discover things about my characters along the way!

The book opens with scenes that take place about four months after the April Fools Day Surprise Wedding of Lucille Lepanto to Bo Astor from the conclusion of Book 2, Thirty-Foot Elvis! It's Labor Day 1985, which also happens to be really labor day for Lucille's daughter Tammy who is being dutifully Lamaze coached by her blushing new husband Cecil Swindle. It turns out to be a day full of surprises! The entire extended family from Madge's Mobile Home Park are in the waiting room (including the Spirits of Granny Laurite and Doll Dumas that only Rhonelle the town psychic can see!)

So stay tuned friends, and if you still haven't gotten a chance to read books 1 and 2 - get your copies and meet my friends! I think you have time to get caught up.

I have finished building 4 new ladies in chairs. They are doing everything from cheering on the Razorbacks , sipping champagne, and yelling at the TV news over chips and a highball. To see how I work on 4 projects at once in porcelain clay, go check out the posted photos on my Facebook business page. Simply google Jane F. Hankins on Facebook and take a look. No "friending neeeded. You can see the different stages of their development - literally from the bottom up! They are now patiently drying out so I can load and fire the kiln in another week or 2.

I'm now starting on some smaller special orders and angels that will fill out the rest of the kiln.

I took some special Christmassy items to the Arkansas Art Center Museum Shop ... and just today a few more over to Local Colour Gallery on Kavanaugh (our friendly local artist co-op in the Heights). Local Colour will be having a Holiday Show opening this evening (11/12) at 5:30. I will try to get by there after my book talk and signing that goes on also this evening! Yep, my author hat will be on tonight,too.

On top of all this - I did a BIG CLEAN OUT of the clay portion of my studio and hosed it down. It's necessary to do this ever so often to hold down on the clay dust, and chase out spiders! Eeeeeuuu!

ANYhooo, I told you It's been a busy week.Can't really complain though, when I have all those happy little faces on my creations smiling back at me!

Oooookay! Here we go! I've never done a blog nor installed a real online e-commerce STORE before now, but I suppose I need to take this big step and begin my adventures in the 2000 teens. On this page you can read updates on what's new, what I'm working on in clay (that is still waiting to dry), what I want to build next, paint next... and write next on Book 3! It seems the older I get - the more ideas and projects I want to do! I am grateful for the inspiration, just could use an apprentice to help me out. So, enough on the computer for now and time to get back into my studio and get my hands dirty. I've got 4 ladies in chairs as works in progress. I gotta put arms and legs on one and a hat on another! Talk to you soon!

Meanwhile take a look at Jane F. Hankins on Facebook (business page so no "friending" necessary.